FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS O FAITH, 4/24.2012

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

JOSEPH, FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FAITH, 4/ 24 /2012

Genesis 43:1-10
JUDAH GROWS UP, 54a

It has been a while since we looked in on Joseph and his family. If you will remember the story, you know that Joseph’s brothers sold him in to Egyptian slavery, and they told their father that he was dead. As far as they were concerned, Joseph was dead! They went on with their lives as though they would never see their brother again, because they never expected to!

God had other plans! While they are living their lives in Canaan, God is working in Egypt! While Jacob’s heart is broken through mourning Joseph, God is working in Egypt. Down in Egypt, Joseph is sold as a slave. He works for a man named Potiphar, who is Pharaoh’s chief executioner. Potiphar’s wife tries to seduce Joseph, but he rebuffs her advances. She lies to her husband telling him that Joseph tried to rape her. Potiphar has Joseph thrown into prison. After a number of years, Joseph is brought to Pharaoh’s attention. God uses Joseph to help Pharaoh, and to make a long story short, Joseph is taken out of the prison and made the Prime Minister of Egypt.

A famine arises in the land, but Joseph has developed a plan to store up grain for the lean years ahead. When the famine comes, it affects all the countries of the earth, even the land of Canaan, where Joseph’s brothers and father dwell.

Joseph’s brothers make a trip to Egypt to buy grain to eat and they meet the brother they sold as a slave some 20 years before. He recognizes them, but they do not recognize him. God uses Joseph to awaken the dead consciences of his brothers. Joseph wants them to think about what they have done, so he accuses them of being spies and throws Simeon into prison until the other brothers return home and bring their youngest brother Benjamin. They told Joseph about him and Joseph uses this as a tool to get them to return with his brother.

The brothers return home with their grain, but no Simeon. Jacob again grieves and refuses to allow the boys to take Benjamin back with them into Egypt. After a while, the grain runs out and they are forced to get more. That is where our text begins today.

In this passage, we see a discussion between Judah, the fourth oldest of Jacob’s sons, and Jacob himself. In this conversation, Judah is trying to convince his father that they have no choice but to return to Egypt, with Benjamin, to get grain. Otherwise, they will all starve to death. That is the gist of what is taking place here. But, as is so often true in the Bible, there is more here than meets the eye.

What we see in these verses is a rebellious man demonstrating the fact that he is beginning to grow up. What we see in these verses is how God used the events of Judah’s life to bring him to maturity. God uses these events to shape Judah into the leader he will one day become.

There is help for us in these verses! After all, God is trying to do the same thing in your life and mine. He desires that we reach a place of maturity. This truth is stated for us in the New Testament.

Eph. 4:13-15, “13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”

2 Pet. 3:18, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

Let’s examine this passage to see how the Lord worked in Judah’s life to bring him to the place of maturity. We need these truths because God is doing the same thing in your life and mine. He might use different processes to achieve His goals, but the end result will be the same. Let’s look on the subject: “Judah Grows Up“.

More about Jesus I would know, More of His grace to others
show; More of His saving fulness see,More of His love who
died for me.
Refrain:
More, more about Jesus, More, more about Jesus; More of His
saving fulness see, More of His love who died for me.

More about Jesus let me learn, More of His holy will discern;
Spirit of God, my teacher be, Showing the things of Christ to
me.
Refrain:

More about Jesus, in His Word, Holding communion with my
Lord; Hearing His voice in every line, Making each faithful
saying mine.
Refrain:

More about Jesus on His throne, Riches in glory all His own;
More of His kingdom’s sure increase; More of His coming,
Prince of Peace.
Refrain:

I think my favorite thing about the story of Joseph is the fact that he always remained faithful and trusted in his God. Even though he was jealously sold by his brothers and lied about to his father and wrongfully accused by Potiphar's wife and thrown in a prison he always trusted God. It is because of that faith that God was able to use him to interpret Pharaoh's dream and he was able to become his right hand man. If he had wallowed in self pity God might not have been able to use him at that critical time. God certainly works in mysterious ways and we all need to recognize that in our own lives. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's lesson!